What percentage of people rent in Columbia Falls, MT?

Name: Renters and owners in Columbia Falls, MT, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

44.0% (±8.2 points) of the occupied homes in Columbia Falls, MT are rented (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

That is 971 renting households against 1,238 that own their home.

In Columbia Falls, the share of households that rent went from 29.2% in 2015–2019 to 44.0% in 2020–2024 (+14.8 percentage points), a measurable increase.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Households that rent: 44.0% (±8.2 points)
Renting households: 971 (±222)
Median renter income: $35,875 (±$15,245)

Who rents and who owns in Columbia Falls

Tenure, estimate (90% margin of error)
	Columbia Falls	Flathead County	Montana	United States
Renter-occupied share	44.0% (±8.2 points)	27.6% (±1.7 points)	30.8% (±0.5 points)	34.8%
Renting households	971 (±222)	12,225 (±768)	141,459 (±2,303)	45,017,354
Owning households	1,238 (±233)	32,008 (±894)	317,400 (±3,818)	84,210,142
Average renter household size	2.3 (±0.4)	2.1 (±0.1)	2.1 (±0.0)	2.3
Average owner household size	2.6 (±0.4)	2.6 (±0.1)	2.5 (±0.0)	2.6
Median renter household income	$35,875 (±$15,245)	$48,137 (±$4,312)	$48,192 (±$1,103)	$52,966
Median owner household income	$102,089 (±$16,347)	$86,433 (±$3,247)	$85,804 (±$1,088)	$100,009

In Columbia Falls, the renter share is higher than in Flathead County (27.6%).

It is also higher than in Montana (30.8%).

It is higher than the national figure (34.8%).

In Flathead County, Columbia Falls ranks 2 of 8 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest renter share.

Statewide, it ranks 22 of 167.

Rankings use the estimates alone; where margins of error overlap, neighboring ranks may not truly differ.

How renting in Columbia Falls has changed since 2015–2019

2015–2019 and 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates
	2015–2019	2020–2024	Amount of change	Verdict
Households that rent	29.2% (±6.8 points)	44.0% (±8.2 points)	+14.8 percentage points	Measurable increase
Median gross rent	$705 (±$294)	$1,016 (±$171)	+44.1%	No measurable change after inflation
Median household income	$46,821 (±$11,056)	$75,766 (±$17,198)	+61.8%	No measurable change after inflation

The Census Bureau publishes 2015–2019 dollars in 2019 dollars and 2020–2024 dollars in 2024 dollars.

Prices (the CPI-U, US Bureau of Labor Statistics) rose 22.7% between 2019 and 2024, so a dollar figure’s verdict compares the two after raising the earlier one by that much, using the Census Bureau’s test for a difference.

The two periods do not overlap, as the Census Bureau recommends for 5-year estimates.

Households that rent in places near Columbia Falls

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Columbia Falls
Place	Distance	Households that rent	Compared with this place
Columbia Falls	—	44.0% (±8.2 points)	—
Whitefish	8.5 mi	38.3% (±5.7 points)	Not measurably different
Evergreen	11 mi	27.2% (±6.6 points)	Lower
Kalispell	12 mi	44.9% (±3.3 points)	Not measurably different
Somers	20 mi	42.6% (±24.9 points)	Not measurably different
Bigfork	21 mi	20.3% (±4.6 points)	Lower
Lakeside	24 mi	27.9% (±16.0 points)	Not measurably different
Marion	30 mi	6.2% (±5.0 points)	Lower
Polson	47 mi	45.4% (±6.6 points)	Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Evergreen, MT (27.2%), Bigfork, MT (20.3%), Marion, MT (6.2%).

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Households that rent across Flathead County, place by place

Rank	Place	Households that rent
1	Kalispell	44.9% (±3.3 points)
2	Columbia Falls	44.0% (±8.2 points)
3	Somers	42.6% (±24.9 points)
4	Whitefish	38.3% (±5.7 points)
5	Lakeside	27.9% (±16.0 points)
6	Evergreen	27.2% (±6.6 points)
7	Bigfork	20.3% (±4.6 points)
8	Marion	6.2% (±5.0 points)

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates), compared with 2015–2019.

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about Columbia Falls

How many renters are there in Columbia Falls?

Columbia Falls has an estimated 971 (±222) renting households, 44.0% of its occupied homes (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

Is renting growing in Columbia Falls?

In Columbia Falls, the share of households that rent went from 29.2% in 2015–2019 to 44.0% in 2020–2024 (+14.8 percentage points), a measurable increase.

How big are renting households in Columbia Falls?

A renting household in Columbia Falls has 2.3 people on average, against 2.6 in an owned home.

How much do renters earn in Columbia Falls?

The median renting household in Columbia Falls, MT has an income of $35,875 (±$15,245) a year, against $102,089 for households that own their home.

Sources

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) and detailed tables (acs/acs5) for Columbia Falls city, Montana (place:16600, in state:30).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The 2015–2019 figures are DP04_0047PE, DP04_0047PM, B25064_001E, B25064_001M, B19013_001E, B19013_001M from the 2019 release.

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP04_0047PE, DP04_0047PM, DP04_0047E, DP04_0047M, DP04_0046E, DP04_0046M, DP04_0049E, DP04_0049M, DP04_0048E, DP04_0048M, B25119_003E, B25119_003M, B25119_002E, B25119_002M

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.